PhD position in Experimental Neuroscience and Biophotonics

ScienceCareers.eu; España; On-site; EUR 19,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia in Leioa, near Bilbao, Spain, seeks a physicist with optics/microscopy or neuroscience background to join a small, international lab working at the interface of optics and neuroscience.

The successful candidate will contribute to exploring the geometry and function of the brain extracellular space using advanced fluorescence techniques, with a 4-year fully funded contract and enrollment in a neuroscience PhD program at the University of the Basque Country.

Qualifications

• A physicist with knowledge on optics/microscopy and an interest in neuroscience.

Responsibilities

• Work on exploring brain extracellular space using fluorescence microscopy.
• Apply super-resolution STED and 2-photon microscopy in live mouse brain slices.
• Engage in immunohistochemistry and potentially electrophysiological recordings.

Job description

Organisation/Company Fundación Biofísica Bizkaia Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 31 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country Spain Type of Contract Other Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Description:
Exploring the geometry and function of the brain extracellular space by fluorescence microscopy
This project seeks to identify new structure-function relationships of the brain extracellular space in the context of signaling and metabolite diffusion.
For this, we will apply super-resolution STED microscopy and 2-photon microscopy in live mouse brain slices, and complement these experiments with classical immunohistochemistry and potentially electrophysiological recordings.
Our STED microscope is custom-built with open laser beams and optical components, and previous experience with advanced fluorescence microscopy or optics is an advantage, though not a must.
We offer
The Tønnesen Group, aka Neuronal Excitability Lab, is a small research group were everyone has a defined project and plays a specific role. A small group allows for better supervision and development of team spirit. We are among a few labs that have the techniques and competences to work at the interface of optics and neuroscience to address the brain extracellular space, and combined with our scientific curiosity we are in a prime position to make new discoveries. We try to maintain a positive learning environment based on curiosity and positive encouragement. Our team is international with current members from Denmark, Italy, Mexico and Spain, and our work language is English. The work involves hands-on experiments using mice, as well as reading up on scientific literature, data analysis and interpretation, and presenting results at lab meetings and conferences.
We seek
A physicist with knowledge on optics/microscopy and an interest in neuroscience, or vice versa, or someone with other relevant background motivated to learn. The most important thing is not the previous educational background of the applicant, but the interest and motivation to learn and master advanced optical imaging that is technically challenging and requires patience and stamina.
Our neuroscience lab is located at the Instituto Biofisika in Leioa, a suburb to Bilbao, Spain. The successful candidate will be employed on a 4-year fully funded contract and will be enrolled at the Neuroscience PhD program of the University of the Basque Country. Part of the program is a 3-month stay at a foreign lab of relevance for the project, though this is voluntary. Net salary is around 2.000 Eur/month.